Colossians 3:12

Universal Holiness: the positive side

12. Put on therefore They had already "taken off the old Man" and "put on the new" (Colossians 3:9, and notes). But the ideal would need to be made real, in obedient faith.

the elect of God For the same phrase (or nearly), cp. Matthew 24:31; Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33; Titus 1:1; and cp. Mark 13:20; John 13:18; John 15:16; John 15:19; Romans 9:11; Romans 11:5; Romans 11:7; Rom 11:28; 1 Corinthians 1:27-28; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Timothy 2:10. The word rendered "elect" (and its cognates) is generally used in the N.T., where the highest level of Divine purpose, or spiritual privilege, is in view, and with a tendency to emphasize the sovereign and (humanly) uncaused mercy of the "choice." See our note on Ephesians 1:4. At the same time the truth of a sovereign choice is constantly found in connexions where (as here) practical holinessis in view. See e.g. Romans 8:29. It is mentioned here only to enforce the most practical "obligations of nobility."

beloved In the Greek, a perfectparticiple passive (so 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13), indicating the settlement and fixity of the Divine love; "on whom He has set His love." On the application to a whole community of such terms as those used in this verse, see above on Colossians 1:2.

bowels of mercies Better perhaps a heart of compassion; having regard to the English use of the word "heart" as a symbol for tenderness of feeling. See our notes on Philippians 1:8; Philemon 1:7.

kindness Almost, sweetness; the character which offers sympathy and invites confidence. See Trench, N.T. Synonyms, Second Series, § xiii.

humbleness of mind One word in the Greek. See above on Colossians 2:18; Colossians 2:23, for the same word (there rendered in A.V. "humility") in a very different context. It occurs Ephesians 4:2 (A.V., "lowliness"); Philippians 2:3 (A.V., "lowliness of mind"); where see notes in this Series. The word is not older in Greek than the N.T., and the grace is essentially Christian, the attitude of a soul which has lost its pride in the discovery of the mercy of its salvation.

meekness Grouped similarly with "humbleness" Ephesians 4:2; where see note in this Series. It is the grace of submission under trial.

longsuffering See note, ch. Colossians 1:11.